Social Media: Your Career Companion, Pt. 1

The recent jobs report reflects a modest level of optimism. However, the economy is far from robust, and the number of people seeking employment is still unjustifiably high. There is still about 5 individuals for every job opening. My clients typically ask me about how to stand out in such a crowded field. The old ways of job hunting are long gone. Searching online job sites is a road to nowhere. While it may be useful to send some resumes out cold, the bulk of your job search activity should be networking. A still underutilized and not fully understood resource is social media. While most people are familiar with Facebook, rapidly emerging sites such as LinkedIn and Twitter can also provide opportunities for you to amplify your brand and land a position. College students and older workers still do not use LinkedIn in large volumes and many still do not recognize that Twitter is more than just reading a minute by minute update of a person's life. Therefore, the following is a quick primer about how to use Facebook as a means of developing your career and finding jobs.

Facebook is by far the most popular social media site online. However, is not fully managed as a career portal. Many individuals are spending too much time socializing and not appropriately networking on Facebook. Rather than view it as solely a means of reconnecting with your 8th grade classmates, it is critical to view Facebook as a key tool in your career development process. Here are the keys to using Facebook effectively as a career resource:

1) Personal Brand Development- construct a brand on Facebook which is one of a professional in your field. Clean up posts, Wall comments and pictures that will not put you in the best light possible.

2) Professional Connections- join career-related groups on Facebook and utilize apps (e.g. Business Card or Jobvite) which are useful to your professional development. Further, becoming a Fan of companies in your area of focus (e.g. Ernst & Young for accounting professionals) or publications of import to your field of interest will enable you to gain a competitive advantage. By following a company as a Fan, you may be the first to hear about events or job opportunities via their Facebook page. Also, as a Fan you may be able to post thoughtful comments on their Wall, which enables you to develop your brand as a well informed and enthusiastic professional.

3) Key Career Updates- your updates should emphasize your career image and some of your future work goals. These small steps can pay immediate dividends as you attempt to navigate the increasingly treacherous job search terrain.